Organic Cotton Yarn

For knitting and crocheting, organic cotton yarn is a great choice.

Organic cotton makes for soft and eco-friendly yarn.

Since traditionally grown cotton uses a large number of pesticides, people who are concerned about the environment often seek out products made from organic cotton. Cotton can be certified as organic if it is grown on land that has been free of chemicals for at least three years.

Organic cotton requires no special care. It is durable, long-lasting, and holds dye well. Organic cotton has the same fiber strength and length as conventionally grown cotton.

To learn more about the market for organic cotton, LoveToKnow Organic recommends visiting these helpful Web sites:

• The Organic Trade Association is a professional association for the organic industry in North America. The group works to promote awareness of the benefits of organic products, including organic cotton.
• About Organic Cotton works to inform consumers about the benefits of organic cotton.
• The Sustainable Cotton Project educates visitors about the environmental impact of traditionally grown cotton.

Organic cotton yarn is a great choice for knitting and crocheting unique handmade items. Whether you're making a baby blanket or a warm winter hat, working with organic cotton helps ensure your project is beautiful, soft, durable, and good for the environment. Although organic yarn can cost 20-50 percent more than comparable non-organic yarn, having a product that is free from harmful chemicals is well worth the added expense.

Since organic yarn is still considered a specialty yarn, it can sometimes be difficult to find at your local craft store. However, here are a few products to look for:

• Blue Sky Alpacas makes 100% organic cotton yarn that is well regarded by crafters for its exceptional quality. The vibrant color palette includes options like lotus, lemongrass, pickle, tomato, pumpkin, and cumin.
• Sublime Organic Cotton feels soft against delicate skin and is gently dyed to create a soothing color palette featuring soft pastels and versatile neutrals.
• Lion Brand Organic Yarn is free from herbicides, pesticides, and other agro-chemicals. Since no dyes are used to create the colors, however, the yarn is only available in vanilla, almond, bark, and cypress.
• Kollage Yarns makes an undyed organic yarn that is part of its USA Yarn Project, which donates 10% of profits to selected charities.

If your shopping options are limited in your local community, check out the following resources for buying materials for knitting and crocheting projects:

• Ecobutterfly Organics is an online specialty shop selling organic yarn, recycled glass beads, natural buttons, bamboo needles, and patterns of interest to crafters who are concerned about the environment.
• Compostable Goods sells a variety of environmentally friendly products for the home, as well as eco-friendly cotton yarn and other craft supplies.

While organic cotton is becoming increasingly popular, it's not the only yarn choice available for crafters who are concerned about the environment. For example:

• Simply Soft Eco from Caron is made from 80% of the company's Simply Soft fiber and 20% of a specially processed fiber produced from recycled plastic bottles. The yarn can be purchased at Wal-Mart stores throughout the United States and is available in a palette of 34 different colors.
• Bernat Bamboo Natural Blends creates items that are strong as steel, yet soft as silk. Bamboo is a replenishable resource grown with no pesticides or fertilizers, making it a very environmentally friendly choice for your yarn.

Once you've purchased the perfect yarn, what should you make? If you're looking for creative project ideas, check out the following helpful articles from LoveToKnow Crafts:

• Free Knitting Patterns
• Free Baby Knitting Patterns
• Quick Knitted Projects
• Knifty Knitter Patterns
• Free Crochet Patterns
• Free Afghan Crochet Patterns

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